Darjeeling, March 25: Former Indian soccer captain Bhaichung Bhutia Monday, March 24 filed his nomination as the Trinamool Congress candidate for West Bengal's Darjeeling constituency.

The sports icon is pitted against Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-backed Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Surinder Singh Ahluwalia, Communist Party of India-Marxist nominee Saman Pathak and Congress' Sujoy Pathak.

Accompanied by a host of Trinamool leaders and workers, Bhutia signed the papers at the Darjeeling district election office.

Polling in the constituency will be held in the fifth phase on April 17.

BJP's Jaswant Singh had won the seat in 2009 with the support of the GJM.

IANS